SA71

We are doing this cruise may 2018...4 days...excited to NOT have to fly to the port this time.

Any Royal ship I have been on has provided a dispenser in the shower for shampoo and conditioner.

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We sailed with a multi generational group on Liberty of the seas and it was great. Adventure Ocean for the kids, dedicated water play area for kids and babies, as well as the adults only pool for grandparents when they wanted peace. Royal also has the nursery for the under 3 crowd ($).

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For those of us past the wedding and baby making years and are secure in our jobs, booking with the nrd is easier. My cruise is a 4 night that is literally in my backyard and the deposit was only $105 Cdn pp. No airfare. The chances of something preventing us from going is very very small so it was worth getting a several category upgrade for leas money and usd 50 obc.

Now if I was booking a longer caribbean cruise....I would have to weigh the options as the deposit would be 250 pp.

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I'm extremely surprised at how many people are willing to give up flexibility in their cruises in exchange for pennies. $143 I read in one post. Really!!!??! That doesn't even cover the change fee if you need to move the cruise a week or a year. That kind of money is totally not worth switching to non-refundable to me.

 

 

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That is because I cruise maybe once every 18 months and I fully intend to go on the specific cruise I booked...so why not get a lower rate?? If the price drops...the penalty does not apply...

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I called my TA and switched from refundable to non refundable deposit, upgraded from oceanview to aft balcony with the 2 day sale promo and walked away $160 richer. Plus got $50 obc. Explorer May 2018.

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Is there loungers on the balcony as well as chairs?

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Yep. Min weight is 75 lbs now I guess....but....there must be at least 200 lbs in the raft. So two small 75 lb kids can't go together.

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Where was your TA a week ago to remind you of final payment?? I am of the opinion that if deposit is lost (likely) then your TA should be covering it for your re-book!

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If the ship docks at 7 then no one is getting off until 8 I would think as the ship has to clear customs.

As mentioned there is nowhere for private vehicles to park on the street, or wait for free. The area is right in the middle of downtown and quite unlike the typical US port which opens up onto massive parking lot.

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Most if not all cocktails were included (ie price $12). A few white and red wines were included (5 each approx) but many were over $12. All beers included as most were $6-8.

FYI you only pay the difference if it's over.

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We are also canadian and have paid $40 usd ($55 cdn) in the past for drink packages on a sale. We are booked on explorer next May and it's now $75 cdn....puts me out of the game!

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Regular coffee and tea, milk, ice tea and lemonade is free at meals in restaurants and the buffet. Alcoholic cocktails are $12, beer 6-8. Wine 10-15. Soda was $2.5 I think. Plus gratuity.

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There must be 2 people. Both over 52 inches tall. In feb 2017 it was min individual weight 100 lbs, max individual weight 280 lbs, max combined 450 lb. They don't weigh most adults unless you look a little fluffy lol.

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Two main pools are salt or fresh water? Solarium pool?

I assume the water in the kids Splashaway Bay waterpark is fresh water.

Please confirm. Thanks.

Awesome site. Totally run by a self described cruise nerd. No official affiliation to the cruise line despite the name. He does almost daily blog posts, weekly podcasts, and daily periscope chats!

I knew about the recent weekend sale from this site. Scored a deal on a beverage package at $40/day and some discounted excursions that weekend for my feb 2017 cruise on Liberty. Saw the 8.99 Voom but didn't buy it as the streaming option does not work on Liberty (fine on all other ships).

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Darn sensors. Royal Caribbean blog dot Com!

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Follow http://www.******************.com Fan site that keeps track of everything Royal Caribbean!

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Interested in your experience. Cost of one way to Bush/IAH?

Do you meet in a lounge onboard and are escorted off the ship?

Do the buses leave when full or are they on a set schedule?

Our flight is late afternoon so we would like a later shuttle.

How long does customs take for a non US citizen?

Thanks

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be sure to check on Black Friday - word is there will be another sale on some items.

Can you get cocktails such as the Lava Flow and Miami Vice before you are 12 miles out to sea?

What does limited mean? Limited to what? Thanks.

Thanks for the quick reply.

As a non US citizen how long will it take to get off the ship and clear customs and get the luggage do you think?

What are the hours of the MDR on debarkation day? We have a late flight and want to get off as late as possible. Thanks.

Could someone confirm if the daily price ($58CAD) includes gratuity, or if you're still charged an additional 18% on each drink. I'm finding conflicting information online....

Thanks!

To clarify...an 18% gratuity is added on the price of the package when you buy it online ahead of your cruise. The gratuity is NOT on every drink when you are actually on the ship. For a 7 nt cruise at $58 cdn per day you would pay $406 plus 18% of 406.

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I'm looking at a Canadian website (everything already in CAD at least) so maybe it includes gratuities? That would be awesome.

 

 

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I am in Canada as well. If your booking is in Canadian dollars when you go into the cruise planner you pay the 58$ cdn per day plus grat. If you do a mock booking and add it to your cart you will see the gratuity added on on top. I got the deluxe on the 30%off sale last week for 41 usd a day which was 54 cdn, and an 18%gratuity was added on top. At 41 usd a day it's at the break even point of 3 to 4 $12 cocktails a day, so I got it for the convenience factor even though it will be close.

I'm looking at a Canadian website (everything already in CAD at least) so maybe it includes gratuities? That would be awesome.

 

 

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Galveston express is a shared shuttle, which means you will be waiting around until it's full before they go?

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